Russian minesweepers (archive)

MOSCOW, June 22. /TASS/. Groups of mine sweepers from Russia’s Northern Fleet held drills in the Barents Sea to practice the tasks of detecting mines and escorting submarines, Fleet spokesman, Captain 1st Rank Vadim Serga said on Monday.

"During the training exercises, the trawler groups practiced the tasks of searching for, detecting and destroying mines while escorting submarines to the combat shooting ranges in the Barents Sea," the spokesman said.

"Northern Fleet sailors practiced the tasks of escorting submarines, using the entire set of mine-clearing armament, from sonar systems of detecting anchor and bottom mines to various kinds of trawler gear," the officer said.